OP/CPG hosts Easter programme for Owia and Point children

The Owia/Point Community Partnership Group (OP/CPG) last Friday completed a successful Easter programme for over 70 children from the communities of Owia and Point.{{more}}

The programme ran from April 2 to April 5 at the Owia Government School.

According to the organizers, the programme was held as a part of activities to mark Child Abuse Awareness Month (April) to “enlighten the community on issues faced by children” on a daily basis.

Chairperson of the group Ingrid Lavia stated that the activties organized targeted the children as well as the parents, and employed the use of drama, craft, dance and open discussions as teaching tools in getting the message across.

She stated that emphasis was placed on highlighting the importance of: safety and security in the home and community; self-defense and protection; signs to look for and to guard against (inappropriate touching and behaviour); involvement of the parents and other caring adults in all aspects of their lives.

Wendy Child of OP/CPG and Noah Rios, Peace Corp Volunteer, coordinated the programme and successfully used the tools — dance, drama and craft — to instill some of the rich cultural aspects related to their heritage; develop openness and self confidence and create a diversion from the electronic media in awakening their creativity. In particular, the drama was used to reinforce ‘good and bad touching’, sexual violence and harassment.

The children’s Easter programme closed last Friday with a mini exhibition and a demonstration of the lessons learnt through drama and dance.

This is the second children’s programme put on by the group, the first one being a summer program in 2011. The OP/CPG is one of the three community groups formed through assistance of the Rural Transformation Unit to assist in the development of social, human, infrastructural and economic capacities within the rural communities.